We’ve now discussed the Quincy Smelter as well as the other four Portage Lake smelters, and in the future we’ll be touring other former industrial sites. Exploring these sites can be extremely dangerous, and should only be done with proper permission and equipment. The Quincy Smelter is perhaps the most dangerous site I’ll cover here. It may seem tempting to take a look inside the smelter yourself. Please, please, PLEASE DO NOT attempt to enter the smelter site on your own, for a number of reasons. First, there are obvious safety concerns. Although there are no environmental hazards onsite (thanks to the work of the EPA), many of the buildings are currently unstable. You’ll note from previous posts that every time we take tours inside the site or simply visit to perform work, we wear hard hats to protect ourselves. Funding is being streamlined to stabilize some of the more seriously deteriorated structures, but this work will not begin until next year. In the meantime, existing conditions and increased snowloads will make these buildings even more hazardous. As a result, for your own safety, please stay outside the fence. This will protect you and the historic resources inside the smelter. Thanks to the Keweenaw National Historical Park, signs were recently installed along the fenceline explaing the hazards inside.
Furthermore, it’s important that you refrain from entering the smelter to protect the numerous historic resources which remain inside. Unfortunately, vandalism and looters have further damaged many of the buildings and removed important items. Your help is instrumental in helping to curtail such destructive activities. As the saying goes, “if you see something, say something!” If you notice irregular activity at the smelter site, please contact the Houghton County Sheriff’s Department and the Franklin Township offices. We appreciate your help in protecting the rich cultural and historic fabric of the smelter, and for your general support for the ongoing stabilization and rehabilitation work!
Since the smelter site is closed, I’ll begin a virtual tour of the individual buildings. Stay tuned and check back regularly for photos and histories of each of the smelter structures!
Quincy Miner's Blog 
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